QUESTION TO ANSWER

First off it is the doctor not the nurse who gives this news. Just like giving results of a test we do not do it. As far as the rest you take care of the pt and family as well. Will respecting family wishes harm pt or put them in discomfort? They don't want it told I will not tell , but they better have a DNR signed or we will be discussing DNR and what having vs not having one means.

We give test results all the time, that's actually part of every State's Nurse Practice Act. All RN's are responsible for making sure patients are informed about their care, including test results, in a timely manner, and RN's are expected to have a workable understanding of tests and how to educated patients about the results.

It was a little different when I worked in a teaching hospital, since there were always a ton of students who needed this experience, but everywhere else I've worked if the Nurse doesn't tell the patient their test results, they'll never know, with the exceptions of real 'doosies'.

We give test results all the time, that's actually part of every State's Nurse Practice Act. All RN's are responsible for making sure patients are informed about their care, including test results, in a timely manner, and RN's are expected to have a workable understanding of tests and how to educated patients about the results.

It was a little different when I worked in a teaching hospital, since there were always a ton of students who needed this experience, but everywhere else I've worked if the Nurse doesn't tell the patient their test results, they'll never know, with the exceptions of real 'doosies'.

Of course we give test results- all oncology parents want to know labs the minute they are back. But when the test results are particularly bad and warrant a conversation about treatment options or direction of care, the MD needs to give those results. I might know that a child's MRI showed rapidly progressing cancer but no way would I be the one to present that information.